Foldable closure



H.- D. OBERDORFER ETAL `lune 8, 1943.

' FOLDABLE cLosURE Filed Nov. 1, 1941 sheets-sheet 1 Patented June 8,1943 UNITED STATES PATENT"OFFICE FOLDABLE CLOSURE Henry D. oberdorfr andCarroll F. van uskirk,

New Castle, Ind., assignors to New Castle Products, lne., New Castle,Ind., a corporation Application November 1, 1941, Serial No. 417,488

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a foldable closure of the general characterillustrated in Patent No. 2,220,939, datedNovember 12, 1940.

The chief object of this invention is to improve a closure of theaforesaid character by simplifying the same and in improving theoperation of such a closure by a track interlocking element rigid withthe so-called en d post of the closure and the inclusion of acombination cushion and yielding locking structure between the track andthe movable post of the closure.

The first mentioned simplification resides in the central offset orbiased portion included in the hinge plate structures and thesimplification of the several links of the lazy tongs construction andthe simplification of the pivotal connections and mountings of same, allas hereinafter set forth more fully.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fullyalso hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an opening with thearticulated framework and track associated therewith, the closurecovering material being omitted for clearness and the articulatedframework being shown in extended or opening-closing position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same, including the covering material,the same being taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and in the direction of thearrows, thetrack being omitted where the section is broken.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but with the closure collapsed,intermediate rollers being omitted.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged central sectional View through the lower lazytongs and lower hinge plate structure when utilized and the pivotalconnection between the aforesaid.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the central portions of two adjacentlinks of one of the lazy tongs.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the semipermanently mounted orstationary post, the track and the interlocking connection therebetween,as shown in the upper right hand portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the combination cushioning and yielding lockarrangement and the forward or movable post illustrated moreparticularly in the upper left hand portion of Fig. 1, parts beingbroken away to show same and other parts in section.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the hinge plates.

In view of the comparatively complete illustration and description ofthe general type of foldable closure in which the invention isincorporated, in the aforesaid Letters Patent, the description of thepresent invention insofar as parts herein are the same or similar tothat illustrated in said patent, will be briefly given.

A foldable closure of this general character is fabricated as a unit andthere is associated therewith an overhead track structure, a relativelystationary mounting to which is semi-permanently secured what may betermed the stationary post of the unit and there is provided astationary member abuttable by the so-called movable post of the unit,if, as and when desired.

The unit includes a pair of series of end-to-end connected links soarranged that their midportions are pivotally connected as illustratedin Figs. 1, 2 and more particularly Fig. 5, thereby forming an upperlazy tongs construction.

Therebeneath there is secured a series of hingedly connected plates andthe same are carried by extensions of certain end pivotal connections ofthe said lazy tongs. If desired, there also may be included therebeneatha similar series of platessee Fig. l-and carried by the same pivotalconnections, the latter extended for that purpose.

Beneath the lower series of plates, if utilized, there is provided alower lazy tongs also carried by the extended pivotal connectionsbetween the ends of the links of the lazy tongs so that the upper andlower lazy tongs together with the upper series of hinge platesconstitute an articulated framework, all parts of which aresimultaneously and similarly movable. Whenever the lower series ofplates is utilized, the parts thereof similarly constitute a portion ofthe articulated framework and they move simultaneously and similarly,with the other parts.

The aforesaid briefly describes the general features of the presentinvention embodied and disclosed in the aforesaid patent.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I0 indicates a side Wall and II an overheadtrack projecting therefrom. The numeral I2 indicates an opposite sidewall, or the like,l and the track may be supported by the ceiling I3 orat opposite ends the track may be carried by the two spaced side walls,as desired. The track-see Figs. 1, 6 and '7-iS Substantially U-shaped incross-section and is provided with two inwardly directed portions I4providing a groove therebetween.

The so-called stationary post includes a channel shaped member-see Fig.Z-indicated by the n there be'included an upper or lower series of hingeplates, there will be provided or secured to the channel member I a pairof angle plates I6. The flange of the angle plate that is parallel tothe flanges of the channel, are suitably notched and curled forintertting association with complementary oppositely formed portions ofhalf hinge plates, designated by the numeral I1 in Fig. 1.

The upper end of the channel member I5 and more particularly the centralportion thereofsee Fig. 6-is extended upwardly and has a T- formationI8. 'I'his T-formation has its head portion I8a seated in the tubularportion of the channel track and its neck portion I8b seated in thegroove between the two inwardly directed portions I 4 of the track.

The flexible covering and any silencing pad material covered thereby andindicated generally by the numeral I9 in Figs. 2 and 3, is positionedexteriorly of the side anges or webs of the channel I5 and is lappedrearwardly, as it were, of the central portion of said channel I5.

A flattened U-shaped metallic member 20- see Figs. 2 and 3particularly-is rigidly connected to the channel member I5 and thecentral portion thereof and thus the lapped ends of the covering, andpadding if the latter be utilized, are permanently connected to theso-called stationary post comprising Vthe angle plates before mentioned,the channel member and the flattened U-shaped member.

To the side wall there is suitably secured as at 2I a verticallydisposed yielding U-shaped anchoring member 22. Whenever the flattenedU-shaped member 20 is forcibly associated with this member 22, theso-called stationary post structure is semi-permanently mounted upon thewall I0. By semi-permanently it is`intended to define that relationshipin the aforesaid connection whereby under all operating conditions thestationary post is rigidly held to the side wall I0 and is supportedthereby, and is prevented from rocking or cocking by the aforesaid T-shaped extended track connection. It desired, a part of the weighttransmitted to this stationary post may be carried by the overhead trackthrough the T-shaped element I8.

Whenever it is desired to remove the closure, the so-called stationarypost is forcibly detached from the member 20, the connection being ofyielding character but requiring, as aforesaid, great force and whensuch detachment is effected, then the track may be removed from theceiling and the track and closure removed from the opening. This permitsclosures of this character to be installed where desired and positionedWhere desired, and as required without discarding of the closure or anypart thereof whenever a change in position is desired with respect tosaid closure and the opening to be closed thereby.

Reference now will Ibe had to the upper left hand portion of Fig. 1 andFig. 7 as well as the left hand portion of Figs. 2 and 3. Asubstantially tubular post 25 of metal is provided at the movable end ofthe closure and this substantially tubular post as illustrated in Figs.2 and 3 has a cross section substantially that of the track zontalalignment therewith. In other words, if

and to one edge thereof there is secured an angle member 2s, similar tethe anne member ls, and

to which the movable end half-plate 21 is se- U-shaped member 28suitably secured to the tu bular movable post 25.

This flattened tubular member 28 mounts a rubber cushion or bumper 29,the same being adapted to engage a channel guide and strike plate 30suitably secured to the side wall I2 opposite the side wall I0. 'I'hisstrike plate, overhead track and the anchor member 22 have substantialcoplanar alignment. .y

There is suitably secured to one or the opposite sides of the movablepost structure a handle arrangement 3|.

At the immediate upper end of the tubular post and extending across thesame, is a pivot member 32, see Fig. 7, the ends of which are covered bythe covering material. This pivot 32 extends through a barrel portion 33of a member having an upwardly extending neck portion 34, the latter atits upper end being enlarged forwardly and rearwardly as at 35 andproviding a top face 36 of elongated character.

Extending transversely through each of the wings 35 is a pivot 31 uponoposite ends of which are mounted the wheels 38. These wheels 38 bearupon the inwardly directed portions I4 of the track II. The neck portion34 of this member rides in the groove of the track between the inwardlydirected portions I4.

Adjacent the end of the track at that end closest to the wall I3see Fig.7therc is secured to the upper central portion of the track II andWithin the same as at 40 an elongated spring 4I. This spring 4I in themovement of the member 34-35 projecting upwardly from the movable post25 is engaged by the surface 36 so that the closing movement of theclosing structure-in other words, its extensible movement toward theclosing end thereof-is first cushioned so that a positive increase inforce is required to completely close the closure, and when thisadditional force is applied through the handle structures and the postto the articulated framework carrying the coveringelements, theflattened face 36 of the member projecting upwardly from the movablepost passes beneath the spring and is yieldingly held thereby when thecushion 29 engages the member 30. Thus, the closure is held in extendedand opening closure portion.

10 open the closure, suiclent force must be applied to a handlestructure to free the movable post from this spring lock and then theparts may be moved to the right-see Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive-until theclosure is in collapsed position, as represented by Fig. 3.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the movable poststructure by reason of the four wheels 38, cannot turn or cock relativeto the trackway and it also will be noted that by reason of the T-shapedextension of the stationary post 28 and its association with the track,the semi-permanently connected post cannot cock or rock. So that, thetwo posts are always maintained in coplanar alignment and hence;relative movement of the post parts toward and away from each other, iscoplanar, thereby insuring ease of collapse or extension. respectively,of the articulated arrangement.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be observed that each of the plates I1 and21 is ahalf-plate, as it were, and sequentially connected end to end toeach other and to the half-plates I1 and 21 are `the full plates 50.Each of the plates 50 includes a central portion 5I which is biasedrelative to the end and maior portions of the gated so that when anupper and lower seriesof plates are utilized the pintle extends throughthe intertting portions of said plates indicated generally bythe numeral53. The pintle member head is indicated by the numeral 54.

Beneath each of the plates and on the pintle is a sleeve 55 which iscrimped to the pivot rod 52 and thus the hinge plates and the pintle aredenitely located with respect to each other. Consequently, there is nosagging of the plates on the pintle. of plates are similar tubularpintle clamping sleeves or members 55 which definitely prevent theseplates from crawling up on the pintles. Above and below the upper andlower series of hinge plate structures there is provided a lazy tongs.

It is to be observed that the angle plates I6 and 26 hingedly mount thehalf-plates l1 and 21 but other than the pintle extensions upwardly anddownwardly, the upper and lower lazy tongs have no connection with theend members or post structures.

It also is to be understood that whenever desired, each of the elongatedpintles 52 may also pivotally connect in end-to-end relation, the endsof an intermediate series of hinge plates.

As previously recited, there is provided an upper series of linksconstituting a lazy tongs.

vHerein the numeral 60 indicates such links and 6I the biased centralportion thereof.V The adjacent ends of full and half links-see Figs. 2and 3-are pivotallyconnected together and by the pintle means 52, thelatter in the present instance having an enlarged head 54.

To prevent downward sagging of the lazy tongs arrangement, there may beinterposed as at 55a tubular member crimped by indenting, and the like,to the pintle 52. The lower free end 52h of each elongated pintle hereinis shown provided with a similar locking sleeve 55. The lower endarrangement is shown more particularly in Fig. 4.

It is to be noted the plate biased central portion 5| is not connected,in most instances, to the crossed and biased central portions 6| of theseveral links constituting the upper and lower lazy tongs. Each of thecentral portions of these links, however, is pivotally connectedtogether more particularly as shown in Fig. 5. Herein such a connectionincludes a headed bolt 65 and a shank portion 66 that extends throughtwo bores E1 in the superposed links, said bores being of the samediameter. On the projecting end of the shank 66 there is mounted a snaptype nut indicated by the numeral 68 and having the shank grippingopposed portions 69 for gripping the shank 66 and thus uniting thestructure together.

As indicated generally at 10, one plate of the upper series andintermediate the ends of the articulated arrangement, may carry astructure Above each of the lower series similar to that illustrated inthe'upper central portion of Fig. 3'of the before mentioned patent, andthis structure 10 thus provides a roller support and the roller thereofis carried by the track, the roller support being swivelled on thepintle connecting the links, this pintle in turn being carried by thecentral biased portion 5l of the plate 50,

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detailin the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredas i-llustrative'and not restrictive in character.

'I'he several modifications described herein as well as others whichwill readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all-areconsidered to be within the broad scopevof the in vention, referencebeing had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. In a collapsible closure for closingl a room, et cetera, having aside wall and a track extending therefrom in the closing direction,including, a pair of vertically spaced horizontally collapsible lazytongs, and an end closure mem- 'ber pivotally connected to the adjacentends of the tongs, the combination of means for semipermanentlyconnecting the member to the wall,

and means rigid with the member and projecting 4 in transverse sectionand havinginwardly directedv ilanges, said projecting means beingT-shaped and integral with the end member, the head portion of theT-shape seating inthe track and the neck extending between the flangesthereof.

3. In a collapsible'closure structure associated with a track, saidstructure including a vertical post structure movable from closure opento closed position, the combination of yielding means carried by thetrack immediately adjacent the closure closed position of the poststructure, and means operatively carried by the latter initiallyengaging said yielding means for initially cushioning nal extension ofthe closure structure into closing position and yieldingly retain# ingthe closure in the full extended position, the track being substantiallyU-shaped in transverse section with inwardly directed portions, thesecond mentioned means extending into the track between the inwardlydirected portions thereof, and spaced wheel means operatively associatedwith the track and carried by the said second mentioned means and offsetrelative to the yielding means for non-engagement therewith.

4. In a collapsible closure structure associated with a track, saidstructure including a vertical post structure movable from closure opento closed position, the combination of yielding means carried by thetrack immediately adjacent the closure closed position of the poststructure, and means operatively carried by the latter initiallyengaging said yielding means for initially cushioning nal extension ofthe closure structure into closing position and yieldingly retaining theclosure in the full extended position, the yielding means beingelongated in the general direction of the track, and the secondmentioned means being elongated in a similar direction, and meanspivotally supporting the second mentioned means upon an axissubstantially and upon the post structure.

5. In a collapsible closure structure associated with a track, saidstructure including a vertical post structure movable from closure opento closed position, the combination of yielding means carried by thetrack immediately adjacent the closure closed position of the poststructure, and means operatively carried by the latter initiallyengaging said yielding means for initially cushioning final extension ofthe closure structure into closing position and yieldingly retaining theclosure in the full extended position, the yielding means beingelongated in the general direction of the track, and the secondmentioned means being elongated in a similar direction, means pivotallysupporting the second mentioned means upon an axis substantiallytransverse to the general direction of elongation and upon the poststructure, the track being substantially U-shaped in transverse sectionwith inwardly directed portions, the second mentioned means extendinginto the track between the inwardly directed portions thereof, andspaced wheel means operatively associated with the track and carried bythe said second mentioned means.

6. In a collapsible closure structure associated with a track, saidstructure including a vertical post structure movable from closure opento closed position, the combination of yielding means carried by thetrack immediately adjacent theclosure closed position of the poststructure, and means operatively carried by the latteil initiallyengaging said yielding means for initially cushioning final extension ofthe closure structure into closing position and yieldingly retaining theclosurein the full extended position, the yielding means being elongatedin the general direction of the track, and the second mentioned meansbeing elongated in a similar di- 2,321,507 transverse to the generaldirection of elongation associated with the track and supported inparallel relation by the elongated second means near the ends thereof.

7. An articulated framework for a collaspible closure of the characterdescribed including in combination a series of end-to-end pivotallyconnected plates, each plate having a central portion biased to theother portions thereof, a series of links of the same length as theplates and similarly connected and adjacent thereto, each link having acorresponding biased central portion, a second series of linksimmediately adjacent the first series of links and of the same length asthe plates and similarly connected, each link of the second serieshaving a corresponding biased central portion, the two series of linksbeing crossed at their biased midportions, means pivotally connectingsaid link biased midportions together, and means connecting the plateend pivotal connections and the rst mentioned link end pivotalconnections together.

8. A framework as defined by claim '1, characterized by the linkmidportion pivotal connecting means including a headed rivet andsnap-nut, the rivet head having operative bearing on the remote face ofone link central portion and the snap-nut having operative bearing onthe remote face of the other link central portion, the rivet shankextending through both central portions.

9. An articulated framework for a collapsible closure of the characterdescribed having an upper and lower lazy tongs, a series of plates, andelongated pintle means connecting the plates in end-to-end relation andthe aligned portions of the lazy tongs, and other elongated pintlemeans-connecting the other portions of the lazy tongs together,characterized by each elongated pintle means having an enlarged portionoperatively bearing on the outer face of one lazy tong, and tubularretainers on each pintle means rection, means pivotally supporting thesecond mentioned means upon an axis substantially transverse to thegeneral direction of elongation and upon the post structure, the trackbeing substantially U-shaped in transverse section with inwardlydirected portions, the elongated second mentioned means extending intothe track between the inwardly directed portions thereof, and slightlyspaced pairs of wheel means operatively below each plate hingeconnection and the other ends of pintle means and crimped thereto forplate and tong permanent connection.

10. A framework as deiined by claim. 9, characterized by certain of thecentral connections of each lazy tong including a headed rivet andsnap-nut.

HENRY D. OBERDORFER. CARROLL F. VAN BUSKIRK.

